nvironmental
Program
The Minerals Management Service's (MMS) Environmental Program is comprised of
two principal program areas, the
Environmental Sciences Program and the
Environmental Assessment
Program.
Both components directly support all MMS activities (the Regulatory, Resource
Evaluation, and Leasing Programs) which manage the Nation's Outer Continental
Shelf (OCS) energy and non-energy mineral resources. Environmental staff is
involved in all phases of OCS activity, from the development of the 5-Year
Program through platform removals. The Environmental Program has three
objectives:
- Provide the best available scientific and technical information to support
decisions on the offshore gas, oil and hard minerals program, which may have the
potential to affect environmental, social and economic conditions.
- Monitor post-lease mineral resource development to determine the extent and
duration of environmental effects and potential mitigation measures that can be
used to minimize impacts.
- Collect and make available to the public information needed to analyze,
discuss and guide future decisions on exploration, development, and production
and lease sales proposed for the 5-year Program. Increase access to, and
usefulness of, information on the environmental, social and economic effects of
industry activities on exploration and development of OCS resources to support
MMS and other agencies on environmental rulemaking affecting OCS activities.
NEPA Process (EIS's and
EA's) -- Public Comment
Operator Environmental ComplianceThe Gulf of Mexico Region Environmental Program is also a source of
information
for operators to use when submitting
exploratory plans (EPs) and development plans (DOCDs).
Environmental Sciences Program
The Environmental Sciences Branch (ESB) provides policy guidance and program
direction and oversight for the MMS Environmental Studies Program
and the MMS Oil Spill
Modeling Program.
Upcoming Meetings
23rd Information Transfer Meeting (January 11-13,
2005)